The village was quieter than usual.
Not silent.
Just… restrained.
People spoke in lower voices.
Moved a little slower.
Looked a little longer at things they usually passed by.
The sky was clear.
Too clear.
There were no clouds.
No wind strong enough to disturb anything.
It didn't match the mood.
Elios stood still.
Not because he was strong enough to stand.
But because he didn't want to sit.
Someone had helped him get there.
He didn't remember who.
His body still ached.
Every movement reminded him of the cave.
But none of it mattered right now.
In front of him—
two wooden structures.
Simple.
Too simple.
Darius.
Kael.
Names carved into wood that didn't feel like it belonged to them.
Elios stared at them.
For a long time—
he didn't think.
Didn't feel.
Just looked.
People gathered behind him.
Some stood with their heads lowered.
Some whispered quietly.
Some didn't say anything at all.
No one approached him.
Not yet.
Because they didn't know what to say.
And neither did he.
"…They'll be buried before sunset."
The voice came from behind.
Elios didn't turn.
"…That's the custom."
He knew.
He just hadn't thought about it.
Time hadn't felt real since he woke up.
Now it was.
Too real.
"…You should sit," the same voice added gently. "You're still—"
"I'm fine."
The words came out flat.
Not strong.
Not convincing.
But enough to stop the conversation.
The man didn't push further.
Elios' eyes stayed fixed on the wood.
"…It should've been me."
The sentence came out before he could stop it.
Quiet.
But clear.
A few people shifted behind him.
No one responded.
Because there wasn't a good response to that.
"…I was there."
His voice dropped.
"…I saw it."
His fingers tightened slightly at his side.
"…I didn't move fast enough."
The words came slower now.
"…I didn't see it coming."
A pause.
"…I didn't do anything."
That wasn't entirely true.
But it felt true.
And that was enough.
"…Elios."
This time—
the voice was different.
Closer.
Softer.
He turned slightly.
Elara stood beside him.
Her expression wasn't broken.
It wasn't calm either.
It was something in between.
Something that had already accepted what couldn't be changed.
"…You came back."
The words were simple.
But they didn't feel light.
Elios looked at her.
Didn't respond immediately.
"…They didn't."
He said it quietly.
Not accusing.
Just stating it.
Elara's gaze didn't shift.
"…I know."
That was it.
No denial.
No comfort.
Just truth.
Elios looked away again.
"…I could've—"
"You didn't."
The interruption was calm.
Firm.
Not harsh.
But it stopped him.
"…And saying it again won't change anything."
Elios didn't reply.
Because he knew that.
That wasn't the problem.
The problem was—
he couldn't stop thinking it.
The preparations began quietly.
Men stepped forward.
The wood was lifted.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Elios watched.
Didn't move.
Didn't help.
Not because he didn't want to.
Because his body wouldn't.
Or maybe—
because something inside him refused to.
The graves had already been prepared.
The earth disturbed.
Waiting.
The first was lowered.
Darius.
Then—
Kael.
Elios' breathing shifted slightly.
Not enough for anyone to notice.
But enough for him.
The sound of soil followed.
Falling.
Soft.
Final.
Each handful covering what was left.
Until there was nothing left to see.
Just ground.
Just earth.
Just…
absence.
No one spoke for a while after that.
Some left quietly.
Some stayed.
Elios didn't move.
Even after it was done.
Even after the others began to step away.
He stood there.
Looking.
At nothing.
"…Elios."
A smaller voice.
He didn't turn immediately.
"…Elios…"
This time—
he did.
Mira stood a few steps away.
She hadn't come closer before.
Hadn't spoken.
But now—
she couldn't stay back.
Her hands were clenched tightly.
Her eyes—
red.
Not from crying just now.
From earlier.
From waiting.
From everything.
"…Is it true…?"
Her voice shook slightly.
"…They're… gone?"
Elios didn't answer.
Not because he didn't want to.
Because he didn't know how.
Mira took a small step forward.
"…You said you'd bring them back…"
The words hit harder than anything else.
Not loud.
Not angry.
Just—
honest.
Elios' breath caught.
"…I…"
Nothing came out.
Mira looked at him.
Not accusing.
Not blaming.
Just—
waiting.
That was worse.
Elios lowered his gaze.
"…I couldn't."
The words came out rough.
"…I tried…"
A pause.
"…I couldn't."
Mira didn't respond.
She just stood there.
For a moment—
it felt like she might say something else.
But she didn't.
She turned.
Slowly.
And walked away.
Not running.
Not stopping.
Just…
leaving.
Elios didn't call out.
Didn't move.
Because he knew—
there wasn't anything he could say.
The wind picked up slightly.
Just enough to move the surface of the freshly turned earth.
Elios stood there—
alone now.
His eyes lowered again.
And for the first time since waking up—
he felt it clearly.
Not just guilt.
Not just loss.
Something else.
Something deeper.
Something that didn't feel like it would go away.
A quiet thought formed.
Not loud.
Not desperate.
Just—
there.
"…Next time…"
The words barely left his lips.
"…I won't be this weak."
No one heard it.
But it stayed.
And this time—
it didn't fade.
End.